What you'll see: Stafford Lake Park features a pretty lake with an island and is nestled in the Marin County hills near Novato. A 17-acre bike terrain park is planned that could put it on the map for mountain bikers across Northern California. It is one of the few lakes in the Bay Area that provides shoreline fishing for bass. The lake covers 245 acres, and the park has two large picnic areas and an excellent array of bird life in late winter and spring.

Fishing: Back in the day, when the lake was drained for repair work to the dam, volunteers anchored brush piles and stacks of trees to the lake bottom as habitat for bass, bluegill and catfish. Fishing could be far better if the park district allowed kayaks or prams, from which you could cast around the island and get access to coves.

Boating: Stafford Lake would seem a perfect place to paddle a kayak or canoe, or oar a pram around, maybe fish around the island and in the coves. But strange rules bar all boats - that is, no kayaks, canoes, prams or inflatables.

Biking: When entering the park and reaching the T intersection, turn right to park on the west side of the lake and to access trails.

Picnics: Two huge picnic areas with barbecues, drinking water and restrooms make this park a favorite of area residents.

Facilities: A play area features volleyball courts, horseshoe pits and a disc golf course.

Future bike park: The 17-acre bike park now in the design phase would include an undulating trail with jumps and berms for mountain bikers, plus a learn-to-ride area. No date has been set for the start of construction.

The legend: At one time, there was a legend of a giant fish at Stafford Lake that would pull unattended rods into the water. When the lake was drained, rangers discovered a 5-foot sturgeon, which was rescued and released in San Pablo Bay.

Cost: $5 per vehicle in winter and on summer weekdays (in summer, $10 Fridays through Sundays, but rangers say that could be reduced).

Dogs: No dogs permitted.

GPS: 3549 Novato Blvd.

How to get there: From the Golden Gate Bridge, take Highway 101 north for 23 miles to Novato and take Exit 463 for Atherton Avenue (toward San Marin Drive). Turn left, go 0.2 miles and continue on San Marin Drive for 2.7 miles to Novato Boulevard. Turn right on Novato Boulevard and go 2.5 miles (you pass along the lake on the left) to the park entrance road on the left. Turn left and drive to park entrance and a T intersection. Turn left for parking and picnic areas on the north shore; turn right to drive to the west end with parking, picnic areas and trailheads.